F1 Academy 2026: Calendar, Teams, Drivers 2026

Key Points

• F1 Academy 2026 season kicks off this weekend in Shanghai, with every round live on Sky Sports F1.
• Doriane Pin clinched the 2025 title after a thrilling battle with Maya Weug and Chloe Chambers; top three not returning due to two-season limit.
• Series launched in 2022 to develop female drivers for F1 feeder ladders like F3, F2, and potentially F1.
• Identical Tatuus T-421 cars with 174hp turbo engines, Pirelli tyres, top speed 240kph.
• Six teams (ART, Campos, Rodin Carlin, MP Motorsport, Prema, Hitech) field 18 cars; Prema defend teams’ title.
• Returning drivers include Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski, Nina Gademan, Alba Hurup Larsen; rookies like Megan Bruce, Ella Stevens, Rachel Robertson.
• Last woman in F1 practice: Susie Wolff (Williams, 2014 British GP); last in GP: Lella Lombardi (6th, 1975 Spanish GP).
• 2025 highlights: Intense title fight, Weug’s comeback, Pin’s Shanghai win, dramatic Montreal chaos, Zandvoort pole, Singapore overtake, Vegas finale crash.

Shanghai (Britain Today News) March 13, 2026 – The F1 Academy bursts back into action this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, spotlighting Formula 1’s all-female racing series designed to propel women up the motorsport ladder. Live coverage of every round in 2026 airs on Sky Sports F1, as reported across multiple outlets including Sky Sports and Formula1.com.

What is F1 Academy and Its Mission?

F1 Academy, launched in November 2022 by Formula 1, aims to prepare and develop female drivers for higher competition levels. As detailed by Sky Sports F1 coverage, the category provides

“more access to track time, racing and testing, as well as support with technical, physical, and mental preparations”.

Susie Wolff, the series’ managing director, oversees operations, drawing from her own experience as the last female driver in an F1 weekend practice session for Williams at the 2014 British GP.

The initiative bridges karting to F1 feeder series like Formula 3, with hopes of Formula 2 and F1 opportunities. Historically, Lella Lombardi remains the last woman to race in a Grand Prix, scoring points with sixth place at the 1975 Spanish GP—still the only female to do so.

Which Car Powers the F1 Academy Grid?

All drivers compete in identical Tatuus T-421 chassis cars, also used in Formula 4, according to specifications from Formula1.com. These feature turbo-charged Autotecnica engines delivering 174 horsepower, Pirelli tyres, and a top speed of 240kph (149mph). This equal machinery ensures talent shines through skill, not equipment differences.

What Happened in the Dramatic 2025 Season?

The 2025 campaign delivered the fiercest title fight yet, eclipsing dominant wins by Marta Garcia in 2023 and Abbi Pulling in 2024. Doriane Pin emerged champion after battling Maya Weug and Chloe Chambers, as chronicled in Sky Sports recaps.

Pin kicked off with victory in Shanghai’s main race, leading the standings. Weug surged ahead after second place and a win in Jeddah. In Miami, Pin charged from sixth, but rain cancelled the main race, leading to three races in Montreal. Chaos ensued with collisions; Weug’s electrical woes yielded zero points in two races and sixth in the third. Pin reclaimed the lead, while Chambers won the main race to join the title hunt.

At Zandvoort, Weug mounted a comeback from 36 points behind: pole, dominant main race win, third in reverse grid. She continued in Singapore with second in reverse grid and a third win via last-lap overtake on Pin in mixed conditions, narrowing the gap to nine points before Las Vegas.

The finale disappointed: Weug crashed on the formation lap of race one (Pin won), and Pin’s fifth in the last race sealed the title.

Who Are the F1 Academy 2026 Drivers and Teams?

A two-season limit excludes 2025 top three—Pin, Weug, Chambers—forcing fresh line-ups across six teams: ART, Campos, Rodin Carlin, MP Motorsport, Prema, and Hitech, each with three cars for an 18-driver grid.

Prema, defending teams’ champions, unveil Germany’s Mathilda Paatz, Spain’s Natalia Granada, and USA’s Payton Westcott, per Sky Sports announcements.

Experienced returnees could contend: Britain’s Ella Lloyd and Alisha Palmowski (both top-five in 2025), Netherlands’ Nina Gademan, Denmark’s Alba Hurup Larsen. British rookies Megan Bruce, Ella Stevens, and Rachel Robertson join the fray, boosting UK representation.

As Sky Sports notes, these line-ups blend veterans’ know-how with newcomers’ hunger, setting up intense rivalries.

When and Where is the F1 Academy 2026 Calendar?

The season launches in Shanghai this week, aligning with the F1 Chinese Grand Prix weekend. Full details from Formula1.com confirm seven rounds mirroring select F1 stops: Shanghai, Jeddah, Miami, Montreal, Zandvoort, Singapore, and Las Vegas. Each event features multiple races, including main and reverse-grid formats, maximising track time.

How Does the F1 Academy Format and Points System Work?

Events follow a proven structure: one main race from qualifying order and one reverse-grid race, plus potential sprint elements, as outlined in series guidelines. This rewards qualifying pace and racecraft alike.

Points mirror junior formulae: 25-18-15 for top three in main races, scaled down; reverse grids adjust for close battles. Team standings aggregate driver scores, with Prema aiming to retain their crown. Technical support, physical training, and mental coaching underpin progression, per Susie Wolff’s vision.

Why Does F1 Academy Matter for Women’s Motorsport?

Beyond competition, F1 Academy fosters a pipeline to elite series. No woman has raced in F1 since Lombardi in 1976, but Wolff’s 2014 practice stint signals momentum. As Wolff stated in Sky Sports interviews,

“We’re building pathways that didn’t exist before.”

With live Sky Sports F1 broadcasts, global visibility grows. Returning drivers like Lloyd and Palmowski, with top-five experience, eye titles, while rookies like Paatz test their mettle.

What Are the Title Contenders for 2026?

Ella Lloyd and Alisha Palmowski stand out with 2025 top-five finishes and second-season edge. Nina Gademan and Alba Hurup Larsen add experience. Prema’s trio—Paatz, Granada, Westcott—could surprise, given the team’s pedigree.

Sky Sports analysts predict a wide-open fight, absent Pin, Weug, and Chambers. British fans eye Lloyd, Palmowski, Bruce, Stevens, and Robertson for podiums.

How to Watch F1 Academy 2026?

Every session streams live on Sky Sports F1, from Shanghai practice to Vegas chequered flags. Coverage includes onboard cameras, team radio, and expert analysis, ensuring fans catch the action.

This season promises drama akin to 2025’s twists—crashes, overhauls, and breakthroughs. As motorsport evolves, F1 Academy cements its role in diversifying the grid.